Decorative flower

ABSTRACT

An artificial flower comprising an elongated semi-rigid stem configured to support a plurality of leaf-shaped elements and a flower-shaped element together above a supporting surface. The semi-rigid stem comprises a hollow tubular sleeve having a plurality of thin elongated members extending therethrough. The flower-shaped element includes an aperture through which the upper portion of the then elongated members are passed to engage a securing means disposed to secure the flower-shaped element to the upper extremity of the hollow tubular sleeve. The lower portion of the elongated members extend outwardly from the hollow tubular sleeve and substantially at right angles thereto to form a base to support the entire artificial flower. The hollow tubular sleeve also includes a plurality of apertures configured to engage the leaf-shaped members.

United States Patent [191 Backus DECORATIVE FLOWER [76] Inventor:Christopher W. Backus, 26 W.

Golden St., Beverly Hills, Lecanto, Fla.

[22] Filed: May 14, 1973 211 App]. No.: 359,882

[52] US. Cl. 161/30, 47/41 [51] Int. Cl. A4lg 1/00 [58] Field of Search161/30, 28, 29; 47/41, 47/55 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,748 636 2/1930 Crockett 161/30 3,161,559 12/1964 Tong 161/30 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,157286 5/1958 France 161/30 Mar. 11, 1975Primary ExaminerWilliam E. Schulz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stein andOrman [57] ABSTRACT An artificial flower comprising an elongatedsemi-rigid stem configured to support a plurality ofleaf-shaped elementsand a flower-shaped element together above a supporting surface Thesemi-rigid stem comprises a hollow tubular sleeve having a plurality ofthin elongated members extending therethrough. The flowershaped elementincludes an aperture through which the upper portion of the thenelongated members are passed to engage a securing means disposed tosecure the flower-shaped element to the upper extremity of the hollowtubular sleeve. The lower portion of the elongated members extendoutwardly from the hollow tubular sleeve and substantially at rightangles thereto to form a base to support the entire artificial flower.The hollow tubular sleeve also includes a plurality of aperturesconfigured to engage the leaf-shaped members.

5 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures 1 DECORATIVE FLOWER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention An artificial flower comprising aflower-shaped element and a plurality of leaf-shaped elements attachedto an elongated semi-rigid stem.

2. Description of the Prior Art Handicraft has always been a form ofrecreation and relaxation. The old, the infirm and the handicapped areencouraged to adopt some form of handicraft as a therapeutic means toimprove and rehabilitate their manual dexterity. If gainful employmentcould also be offered, by reason of the high usefulness of the item,much interest would be gained. Most handicraft do not have suchpossibility and are mostly nick-hack items.

Particularly, with the increased leisure time available to people as aresult of changing work patterns and increased retirement, numeroushandicraft kits and devices have been developed. The assembly andarrangement of artificial flowers is among the more common type of suchdevices.

Such devices include artificial flowers comprising a plurality of petalscooperatively assembled by means of a plurality of threads. In addition,various artificial flowers and corsage arrangements requiring the deviceto be assembled by the stapling or curling of the wire elements aboutone another exist.

However, in each instance various staples, wires, glues and tools arerequired. Thus, a need remains for an attractive, easy to assembleartificial flower which does not require additional tools and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an artificialflower of the type assembled from handicraft kits. As previouslydiscussed, innumerable attempts have been made to create attractive andappealing artificial flowers.

The present invention combines a unique combination of elementsspecifically configured to produce an attractive artificial flower ineasy to assemble kit form. To accomplish this, the present inventionincludes an elongated semi-rigid stem comprising a hollow tubular sleevehaving a plurality of elongated wire-like elements extendingtherethrough. A plurality of apertures are formed along the length ofthe sleeve to engage a plurality of leaf-shaped elements as more fullydescribed hereinafter. Each leaf-shaped element includes a body memberand attachment means comprising a tab angularly oriented relative to thelongitudinal axis of the body member. The upper and lower portions ofthe wire-like elements extend outwardly from the tubular sleeve to forman attachment means and base means respectively.

A flower-shaped element including a centrally disposed aperture formedtherein is affixed to the upper portion of the elongated wire-likeelements by a circular securing means including'a centrally disposedaperture formed therein,

To assemble, the upper portions of the wire-like elements are passedthrough the aperture of the flowershapcd element and aperture of thecircular securing means. The upper portions of the elongated wireelements are then bent to a position substantially perpendicular to thesleeve to engage the circular securing means. This serves to secure theflower-shaped element adjacent to the upper portion of the tubularsleeve. The

individual leaf-shaped elements are then attached to the stem by passingthe tabs through the apertures formed on the tubular sleeve. To furthersecure the leaf-shaped elements to the stem, the leaf-shaped elementsmay be twisted. The lower portion of the wirelike elements are passedthrough a base and bent to a position substantially perpendicular to thetubular sleeve to engage the base to support the artificial flowerupright.

By the combination of these unique elements, the present inventionrelates to a new and novel artificial flower.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of thenature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an artificial flower.

FIG. 2 is a partial detailed rear view of a stem and flower-shapedelement.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a stem and leaf-shapedelement.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an artificial flower.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, thepresent invention generally indicated as comprises an artificial flowerincluding a semi-rigid stem 12, a plurality of leaf-shaped elements 14,flower-shaped elements 16 and securing means 18.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, semi-rigid stem 12 comprises a hollowtubular sleeve 20 having a plurality of thin elongated wire-likeelements 22 extending therethrough. The upper portion 24 of elements 22extend outwardly from the upper portion 26 of sleeve 20 which cooperatewith the upper edge 28 of sleeve 20 to form a first fastner means asmore fully described hereinafter. The lower portion 30 of elements 22extend outwardly from the lower portion 32 of sleeve 20 to form a secondfastener means 34 (FIG. I). In addition, a first attachment meanscomprising a plurality of apertures 36 is formed along the length ofhollow tubular sleeve 20 to anchor leaf-shaped elements 14.

Each leaf-shaped element 14 comprises body member 38 and secondattachment means 40 comprising a tab which may be angularly orientedrelative to the longitudinal axis of body member 38 such that whenassembled leaf-shaped elements 14 extend upwardly on a diagonal relativeto stem 12.

Flower-shaped element 16 comprises body 42 having centrally disposedaperture 44 formed therein and a plurality of petal-like members 46formed about the periphery of body 42. Securing means 18 comprises asubstantially flat circular element 48 having a centrally disposedaperture 50 formed therein.

The artificial flower I0 is specifically configured for ease of assemblyin kit form without the necessity of tools or other paraphernalia. Asdescribed hereinafter,

a plurality of such flowers may be combined in an attractivearrangement.

To assemble, the upper portions 24 of elements 22 are passed throughaperture 44 of flower-shaped element l6 and aperture 50 of securingmeans 18. The diameter of aperture 44 relative to sleeve is such thatthe bottom surface 52 of flower-shaped element 16 engages upper edge 28.Elements 22 are then bent downward substantially parallel to body 42 andflat circular element 48 to secure flower-shaped element 16 betweenelement 48 and upper edge 28.

Each leaf-shaped element 14 is then attached to stem 12 by passing tab40 through an aperture 36. To further secure the leaf-shaped element 14thereto, they may be twisted about stem 12 in the manner shown.

A plurality of assembled flowers 10 may then be arranged together in aplanter or similar arrangement (not shown). To support the individualflowers 10 in a substantially upright position relative to thesupporting surface, the lower portion 30 of elements 22 are disposedsubstantially perpendicular to sleeve 20 to form the second fastenermeans 34. The lower portion 30 of elements 22 may be passed through abase 54 (FIG. 4) and bent as previously described to secure stem 12 tobase 54.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, andsince certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all the generic and specific features herein described, and allstatements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language,might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial flower comprising: stem means including a firstattachment means, leaf means including a second attachment means, saidfirst attachment means comprising aperture means formed in said stemmeans, said second attachment means comprising tab means integrallyattached to said leaf means and formed from a flexible material, saidtab means positioned within said aperture means and wrapped about atleast a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said stem means,whereby said leaf is secured to said stem means; flower means connectedto said stem means. a first fastener means interconnected between saidstem means and said flower means.

2. An artificial flower as in claim 1 wherein said stem means comprisesa hollow tubular sleeve and a plurality of elongated elements extendingthrough said sleeve, said first fastener means comprising a first endportion of said plurality ofelongated elements extending out of one endof said sleeve, said plurality of first end portion elements disposedsubstantially radially of said flower means and into engagement withsaid flower means,

whereby said flower means is connected to said stem 7 means.

3. An artificial flower as in claim 2 further comprising a secondfastener means at least partially defined by a second end portion ofsaid plurality of elongated ele ments, base means connected to said stemmeans by said second end portion of elements, said second end portion ofelements disposed substantially radially from the longitudinal axis ofsaid stem means and in engagement with said base means.

4. The artificial flower of claim 1 further including securing means tosecure said flower means to said stem means, said securing meanscomprising a substantially flat element mounted on said flower meanshaving an aperture formed therein, said upper portion of said elongatedelements extending through said aperture of said substantially flatelement, whereby said flower means is secured to said stem means.

5. The artificial flower of claim 1 wherein said tab means is angularlyoriented to said leaf element such that said leaf element is inclinedrelative to said stem. l l l

1. An artificial flower comprising: stem means including a first attachment means, leaf means including a second attachment means, said first attachment means comprising aperture means formed in said stem means, said second attachment means comprising tab means integrally attached to said leaf means and formed from a flexible material, said tab means positioned within said aperture means and wrapped about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said stem means, whereby said leaf is secured to said stem means; flower means connected to said stem means, a first fastener means interconnected between said stem means and said flower means.
 1. An artificial flower comprising: stem means including a first attachment means, leaf means including a second attachment means, said first attachment means comprising aperture means formed in said stem means, said second attachment means comprising tab means integrally attached to said leaf means and formed from a flexible material, said tab means positioned within said aperture means and wrapped about at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of said stem means, whereby said leaf is secured to said stem means; flower means connected to said stem means, a first fastener means interconnected between said stem means and said flower means.
 2. An artificial flower as in claim 1 wherein said stem means comprises a hollow tubular sleeve and a plurality of elongated elements extending through said sleeve, said first fastener means comprising a first end portion of said plurality of elongated elements extending out of one end of said sleeve, said plurality of first end portion elements disposed substantially radially of said flower means and into engagement with said flower means, whereby said flower means is connected to said stem means.
 3. An artificial flower as in claim 2 further comprising a second fastener means at least partially defined by a second end portion of said plurality of elongated elements, base means connected to said stem means by said second end portion of elements, said second end portion of elements disposed substantially radially from the longitudinal axis of said stem means and in engagement with said base means.
 4. The artificial flower of claim 1 further including securing means to secure said flower means to said stem means, said securing means comprising a substantially flat element mounted on said flower means having an aperture formed therein, said upper portion of said elongated elements extending through said aperture of said substantially flat element, whereby said flower means is secured to said stem means. 